In the south of Portugal, between the Tagus River and the Algarve, we meetI Alentejo, a region with charming villages, authentic  gastronomy and one of Portugal's largest wine production areas.

Those visiting the Alentejo region are initially taken by surprise with the remarkable traces of successive cultures: dolmens and cromlechs, Roman and Arab traces mixed with the latest signs of Christianity, exemplified by the numerous medieval castles that stand out on the vast plain.

Country life, mountain life, river life, beach life, the Alentejo has it all, throughout the year, although spring is considered the best time to visit, as the fields are in bloom.

It' s impossible to talk about the Alentejo without mentioning its capital of Évora. A truly captivating city, steeped in history and romance. Not too far from Évora, towards the Spanish border stands Monsaraz, a medieval village and the highlight of the Alentejo. This special place retains the magic of ancient times like few others in the world.

In the upper (“alto”) Alentejo region, lies Castelo de Vide, considered by many to be the most well-preserved medieval town in Portugal.

Further south, in Lower "Baixo" Alentejo, built on a hill, we discover, the city of Beja with over 2500 years of history and at its feet a vast green plain, oriented towards the cereal crops, cork, vineyards and olive trees.

Travelling a little further south towards the Algarve, we reach the graceful medievel village of Mértola, perched on top of a rocky strip, overlooking the peaceful Guadiana River. Cobbled streets lead to a small but impressive castle that sits high above the town, which is a labyrinth of whitewashed houses and a picturesque church that was once a mosque.

And of course, if you're a foodie, this region cuisine is well-known to be a must!  The tradicional Alentejo gastronomy is simple but imaginative, pork , lamb and bread are the unavoidable base.

Alentejo is also an ideal destination for lovers of wine. The region is the main producer of excellent, highest quality Portuguese wines in the country. The region produces a range of white, rosé, and red wines. White wines have a firm structure and are full-bodied. These wines are also highly aromatic in flavor.  The red wines  are mostly made by blending several different grapes. They can be described as  full-bodied, rich in color, and have the perfect level of acidity.  The rosé wines are extremely unique, on the palate, the rose wines are smooth and well rounded. There are more than 260 local wine producers in the Alentejo region, and many of them open their doors to visitors of the Alentejo Wine Route. The hard part is to choose where to start!